Malaysian police still investigating kidnapping of Filipino: Hamza

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KOTA KINABALU — Malaysian police are still detaining the Filipino who was rescued from the band of kidnappers in Jolo Island, in South Philippines last Friday, to assist in investigations, said Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib.

Hamza said Marcy Dayawan or Mimi, 39, is still being detained in Bukit Aman to assist in investigations into the kidnapping including obtaining information from her on the group that might be involved in her abduction together with another Chinese woman.

He said that based on whatever information that might be obtained, police would carry out further investigation on the group that might be involved in the incident including under the Prevention of Crime Act (POCA) 2013 which was gazetted last April 1.

“Once the investigations are finalized, we will hand her over to the Philippine Embassy to be sent back to her country as she is not a Malaysian citizen,” he told reporters after officiating the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) Reject Corruption Campaign, at the Sabah Contingent Headquarters level, here Tuesday.

Marcy and another woman, Chinese national Gao Hua Yuan, 28, were kidnapped on Singamata Adventures Reef and Resort in Semporna on April 2 at about 10:30 p.m. by a group of armed men before they were both rescued following cooperative efforts between the Malaysian and Philippine security forces.

Commenting on the development of the kidnapping case of Chinese male national Yang Zai Lin, 34, manager of a fish-rearing centre from Baik Island, Lahad Datu, on May 6 at about 2:45 a.m., Hamza said the police force, including officers from Bukit Aman were doing their best to rescue him.

Hamza said the Malaysian police had identified the kidnappers who were out for ransom and were confident that the group which carried out the Singamata, Semporna kidnapping and the group on Baik Island were connected.

On the shooting case in Lahad Datu which resulted in the death of an army personnel on May 28, Hamza said the case was considered solved with the arrest of 15 army officers.